Thursday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

In today’s gospel, we are reminded about reconciliation. And for me, it has taken some time and these readings to help understand that this means more than being contrite. God is asking us to align our thoughts and actions. It isn’t enough to attend church regularly or say daily prayers if our relationships with one another are broken. Our relationship with God is not separate from our relationship with others. If these relationships aren’t working then it is difficult, if not impossible, to have a rich relationship with God. We are being asked to not only talk the talk but walk the walk. The first reading reinforces this message by telling us to turn to God (the relationship thing again) so we can see more clearly. What a great compliment to the gospel’s message of coming together.

Committing to a garden requires a high degree of persistence. A dedicated gardener sticks with it even when the plants don’t sprout up right away, or the rabbits eat their lettuce. Today, God is asking us to be persistent in our relationships with one another. And like gardening it might not always be easy, there might be a few weeds that need pulling along the way, but if we let the light in we will flourish and grow.